Aim: To evaluate the correlation between visual function and neurodevelopmental outcome in children with periventricular leucomalacia at 1 and 3 years.
Method: Visual acuity, visual field, ocular motility, and optokinetic nystagmus were tested in 29 infants with periventricular leucomalacia by brain magnetic resonance imaging. All infants also had a structured neurological examination and a Griffiths developmental assessment.
Results: 21 of the infants showed at least one abnormality of visual function. The degree of visual impairment-that is, the number of visual tests showing abnormal results-correlated well with the results on developmental assessment at both ages.
Conclusion: Multivariate analysis showed that visual impairment was the most important variable in determining the neurodevelopmental scores of these infants, more than their motor disability and the extent of their lesions on magnetic resonance imaging.